In a forest, tigers are only expected to be beside the trees, in the meadows, caves or maybe in and around water bodies, and tourists have to widen their eyes a bit to discover the big cats in the inner recesses of the forest. And the sighting happens only occasionally. So when on my last safari into the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, the safari canter carrying us, the tourists, bumped into a tiger resting on the route, it was a reward beyond expectations!
At Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, the part of the forest open to tourism is divided into five zones: zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. It was on a hot afternoon of April that our safari canter entered the zone 2 and had to stop, seeing other tourist vehicles stranded there. A young tiger stretched itself in the middle of the road and was in no mood to leave. I brought out my camera, clicked just enough photos for remembrance and was done with it. So did the other tourists as the tiger turned to its left and to its right and then towards us to have a good look at the tourists.
Half an hour had passed and we had the rest of the zone 2 to see within four hours of the evening safari. But the tiger kept us guessing about how long it would be lying on the road. The tiger seemed to assert that we were in his territory and he would move as and when he pleased! The tourists kept quiet, waiting for the tiger to clear the road at its own sweet will.
It was almost after an hour that the tiger rose from the ground and walked down in lazy steps to a waterhole nearby and sat on the water to cool itself.
Being nocturnal, tigers spend most of the day, sleeping or resting in the shades after ensuring that no one from their own community was encroaching on their territories. No worries as others pose no threats to them. The tiger chose the comfort of soft sand of a safari route for a siesta perhaps after a heavy lunch. But it was all good for us, the tourists, or else we would have had to strain our eyes looking into the forest and having only a glimpse or more often return home disappointed without sighting any one of them. We were so ecstatic and thankful!
Trickles of Tales 